Is ‘Czexit’ Next? Zeman Calls for EU Referendum

Czech President Miloš Zeman has called for a referendum on exiting the European Union and NATO. Poll claims 49% of Czechs support staying in EU while 34% want to exit.

Zeman says that he personally backs the country remaining in both organizations, but said that he “will do everything for [Czechs] to have a referendum and be able to express themselves.

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The president does not have the authority to call a referendum as it would require an amendment to the constitution. Still, the country is home to many Euroskeptics.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said: “Membership in these organizations is a guarantee of stability and security. The government is not considering taking any steps which would question in any way our membership and the long-term orientation of the Czech Republic’s foreign policy”.

The Czech Republic, which joined the NATO Western defence alliance in 1999 and the EU in 2004, does not have a referendum law.

The membership of the European Union is very beneficial to the Czech Republic, as it receives $8.3 billion annually which is more than it contributes.